Machine for grooving and filling rods



E. ELJOHNSON. MACHINE FoRIIRooIIING AND FILLING Rous. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 5I 1916. 1 ,358,745. Patented NOV. 16, 1920.

5 SHEETS-SHEET l.

E. E. JOHNSON.

MACHINE FOR GROOVING AND FILLING RODS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 5| 1916.. f

1 $3,558,745.l Patented Nov. 16, 1920.,

5 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

my Y @f E. E. JOHNSON.

MACHINE FOR GROOVING AND FILLING RODS.

mmm Nov. 16,1920.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

s W APPLICATION FILED FEB. 5 191B. e mi? y .1j

3/ 1 /69 l if] E. E. JOHNSON.

MACHINE FOR GROOI/ING AND FILLING RODS.

AlPPLICATION FILED FEB. 5| I9I6.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

E. E. JOHNSON. MACHINE FoII @RoovING AND FILLING Roos.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 5, 1916.

WiL/fesses m ,1%. f mm ws ai mm f n m Q w 95 Lb W@ UNITED STATES EDWARD E. JOHNSON, F ST. PAL, MINNESOTA.

MACHINE FOR GROOVING ANI)` FILLING RODS.

insana.

Application filed February 5, 1916. Serial No. 76,253.

- grooving and filling rodsand provides a machine which will mill grooves in rods and fill up the grooves with flux and solder so that the rods may he easily soldered to the insides ot well screens for reinforcing the saine.

The machine uses coiled wire which is straightened into a continuous rod. This rod is then grooved and the grooif'e filled with solder and flux and the continuous rod is automatically cut' ofi into right lengths to be afterward soldered in place in the well screens to rein-force the same.

The full ohjects and advantages of my inn vention will appear in connection with the detailed description thereoil and are par ticularly pointed out in the claims.-

ln the drawings, illustrating the application of my invenion in one forum- Figure l is a iront elevational view ot my novel device showing a. part only of the cut-off actuating elements. Fig. 2 a rear elevational view ot a portion of the machine showing the driving elements including the reduction gearing fior the rod Fig. is a plan view of aportion oit' the machine particularly illustrating the rhin reservoir and means for applying the Hun to the rod and solder. 3 and all the succeeding Figures are drawn to a larger scale and Figs, 2l to 28 are greatly enlarged. Fig. yl is sectional. view of the AHur reservoir taken on line M of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a sectional end elevational vie-w of the wire straightening member taken online of Fig. l. Fig.V G is an end sectional elevational view of the member for feeding the rod into the machine and is taken on line (3 6 ol Fig. l. Fig. T is a front elevational sectional view of the milling head taken on lino 7 7 oit Fig. 8, Fig. 8 is an end sectional view of the milling head and drive taken on line 8-S of Fig. l. Fig. 9 is an end elevational view oli the shearing device taken on line 9-9 oi" Fig. l. Fig. l() is an en'd elevationall view ofthe rod cut off and rod-ejecting actuating means taken Ain dierent relations.

online 10-1O of Fig. l. Fig. l1 is a side elevational view of the cut-off tripping de vice takenon line ll-ll of Fig. l. Fig. l2 is a sectional view of the same on line 12-12 of Fig. l1. Fig. 13 isa view similar to ig'. l2 showing the parts in different positions. Fig. la is a sectional view of the same taken on line 14C- lei of F ig. 13. Figs. l5 and lGfare plan sections taken on lines 15-15 and IMS- 16, respectively, of Fig. 14. Fig. 17 isan elevational sectional view of the eccentric shaft and parts thereon taken on line 17-17 of Fig. l0. Fig. 18 is an elevational section taken on line 18-18 of Fig. 17. Fig. 19 is a view similar to Fig. l() of a portion of the device shown Y therein with some of the parts positioned Fig. 20 is an elevational Lsectional view of the rod-ejecting device taken-on line 20-20 of Fig. l. Fig. 2l is an elevational sectional view showing some of the parts illustrated in Fig. 20 taken on line 21-21 of Fig. l. Fig. 22 is a view similar to Fig. 2O taken on line 22-22 of Fig. l. Fig. 23 is a view similar to Fig. 22 with some of the parts in Adii*- ferent positions. Fig. 24:y is a. front elevational view of some of the parts shown in Fig. 2l. Fig. 25 is a plansectional .view of some of the parts shown` in Fio'. 22 taken on line 25-25 of Fig. 22. Fig. 26 is a sectional view of vthereinforcing rod after the same has been milled. Fig. 27 is a view similar to Fig. 26 showing the rod com# pleted. Fig. 28 isa view of a portion of a wellscreen with the rod soldered in place. Fig. 29 is a view of some of the parts shown in Fig. 23 in different relative posi tions.

The machine as-.illustrated inthe drawings comprises, rst, broadly, means for rod into predetermined lengths while theA same is kept in its straightened condition. This involves not only the cutter but gnid ing mechanism for the rod, actuating means for the cuteoff device, and'means for operating the guiding' meanszso as to discharge the completed rods. This last mechanism is pressed into a groove t7 by a rolling device supported upon three horizontal members 32, and 341- held in fixed parallelrelation bv brackets 35 regularly .distributed throughout the length of the rods and supported by uprights 36 which are set at suitable intervals and are connected with nthe central member 33.

rThe loaded rods are made from stock which is in elfect a very large sized wire 37 that is supplied by the manufacturer in coils containing several hundred feet of the wire. As shown at the left of Fig. 1. the `coils are preferably supported upon a reel'37A adapted to Vrotate about a vertical axis., VThe wire 37 passes from the reel 87A toa straightening device comprising members designated generally as 38 for straightening the wire in one plane and as 39 for straightening the wire in a plane at right angles to 'the firstnamed plane. From this point the wire 37 is continuously fed forward as a straight rod 41 by a feeding element designated erally as 40. A continuous rod is fed into a casing 12 containing milling members later to be described, where a longitudinal groove i7 having rounded edges is cut in a straight line along an element of the lower side of the continuous rod. The grooved rod 4:3 is carried through a guide member L ttt-having a device which will be later described which enters the groove 47 formed in rod et?) and tends to hold said rod in its lined straightened position so that the groovewill be continuously cut along an element` The red then is fed' above a flux-containingreceptacle from which a soldering flux is applied to the groove. The solder inthe form of wire is fed from a spool at the of themilling` chamber and into the ceptacle 45, from which the solde a9, the loaded rod 5,0 thereafter being f.l through the machine. At 51 the rod is sheared of into proper lengths to be later used in reinforcing the well screens 52, as`

a bracket 54; by means of which it is attached to the casting 80. Each of the elements 88 and 39 comprises a rectangular opening 55 in casing` 53 in which is mounted four bars 5G, 57 58 and 59, said bars beine shorter than Jfhe length of opening 55 and of such a width that all four bars i ust lill up the width of the opening. To each of these bars is rotatably secured a small grooved roller 6. By means of set screwsil 62 yscrewed into casing 53 and acting ag inst the ends of blocks 56, 57, 58 and 59, said `Fig.4 5.

grooved rollers can be adjustably positioned` and can be rigidly locked in piace by means of screws 68 passing through slots (itin the backs of the respective portions of casing and screwed into said blocks, as best vseen inY The wire 37, as seen in Fig. fr... i passes alternately over and under each of rollers 60. and when said rollers are brought up against the wire with sufficient force the same leaves the device as a. stra-ight rod 411, By loosening either of the end blocks 5S or 59, the rodV can be made to have a slight curve which becomes advantageous with hard wire, as a curve is often given this form of wire by the milling cutter and it would hence be just equalized bythe method mentioned to secure a .straight rod upon leaving the milling cutter.

A. feeding device 40 feeds the wire into the machine and is shown in detail in Fig. A base supports two uprights 66 and G7 and is secured to the top of castingV 80, as

shown in Fig. 1. Each of the uprights G6' and 67 is provided with a vertical tongued slot 68 in which is slidably mountedtwo grooved blocks 69 and 79. Slots 58 extifnid into the lower portions of uprights 6G and 67 to crossbars 71 integral therewith and are covered at their open tops by caps 72, The

caps 72 are provided with hand screws 'll-l. and the crossbars 71 are provided with set screws 74 for adjusting the relative posi tions of blocks (S9-and '70. Blocks 69 are bored to form bearings for a shaft 75 havlater explained. Blocks 69 and 70 in upvright 67 may he kept apart by means of a compression coil spring 82. as shown in Fig. 6. Hence by the agency of screws 78 and '74 the rollers 77 and 80 lcan be made to press upon the rod 41 which passes between icm Vwith any degree of pressure, and so cause an effective feed. As only a short relati .fe shift of shafts 75 and 78 is necessary, the drive from one to the other through gears 7 6 and 79 isei'fected by employing cycloidal teeth on said gears.

A feeding device 4.9 almost identical with y feeding device 40 causes the solder le to be forced intothe groove L17 in rod 1i-3 and conducts the finished rod 5U away from the machine. Similar to feeder e9, a base 185 supports uprights 136 and 187. A pair olf-rollers 138 and 189 are secured on a pair of shafts 140 and 14:1, respectively, saidY shafts being slidably adjusted and driven by intermeshing gears 142 and v143 fast Y on said shafts. On shaft 141 is secureda sprocket wheel 81 by which the device is driven.

The rod 41 upon leaving the feeder 40 enters a milling head 42, shown in Figs. l, 7 and 8. A. box-like housing 84 is adjustably mounted upon a bracket 85 attached to casting 80. This housing is limited to vertical sliding by Vmeans of a tongue 86 and a groove, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7, and by means of a bolt 87 passing through a slot 88 in said housing and screwed into said bracket. l/Vithin housing 84 is located a milling cutter 89 secured upon the end of a shaft 90 journaled in bearings 91 and 92, a part of the bracket 85. Milling cutter 89 is driven by means of a belt 94 and a pulley 98 fast on shaft 90. A guide block 95 is set into housing 84 and is normally held inplace by a plate 96. This guide block is provided with a guide hole 97 through which the rod 41 passes and exposes its under side of the milling cutter 89. Cutter 89 is hence caused to form the grooved rod 48, shown in Fig. 26, the depth of groove 47 being adjusted by raising and lowering the entire housing 84, as permitted by bolt 87 inslot 88. The front ofv housing 84 is provided with an opening for access to cutter 89 which is normally closed by means of a cap 98, and the bottom of said housing is open to form a discharge mouth 105 for ythe cuttings formed therein.

At the bottom of base 81 is located a pump 99 driven by a shaft 100 by means of a belt 101 and a pulley 102 fast on said shaft. The interior of base 81 is hollow and forms a reservoir for the lubricant used in connection with the milling cutter. Pump 99 draws lubricant -from rthis reservoir and forces it through a hose 108 into a nozzle 104 set into the housing 84, as clearly shown in Fig. 7. The lubricant together with the cuttings discharges through the mouth 105 into a suitable receptacle 106 which rests upon a shelf pan 107. The bottom of receptacle 106 is perforated and pan 107 is provided with ducts 108 by means of which the lubricant can flow back again into the previously-named reservoir, thus making the lubricating system automatic and economical.

The groove 47 in rod 48 is formed for the purpose of Vreceiving soldeny and a proper cleaning flux to clean the surface of the rod and of the portion of the well screen to which it is attached when the solder and flux are heated. This flux is provided in the form of an emulsion somewhat similar in consistency to soft soap. W'hen pressed into the corners of the groove back of the' melting of.V they solder. The solder wire comes in spools 109 which areL rotatably mounted upon'anarm 110'se`cured to the front of base 81. The solder wire 46 is led from the spool 109 over and across the bearing` head 92 ofshaft 90, as seen in Fig. 8, and passes lthrough, the receptacle containing flux andy into the feeding device 49, wherethe rod coveredwith flux is forced into the groove and from which the loaded rod 50 issues. This receptacle .117 is secured to an upright 186 andL to the bearing 92 of shaft 90, as shown in Fig. 8. The top of receptacle 117 reaches nearly up to rod 148 and is provided-with anextension pan 118 which lies below rod 48 up to where the same enters the feeder 49. Within and at one side of reservoir 117 a shaft 119 is journaled in a bracket 120, and has thereon a f pulley 121 and a disk 122. The disk 122 rolls in groove 47 of rod 48 and also in the body oflux within the receptacle, by which means the fluxis conveyedto the interior of said groove. The solder wire 4,6,passes into receptacle 117 under pulley 121 and along the drip pan 118 until it enters feeder 49, where it is forced into the groove 47 of rod 48. It is thus apparent that the interior of groove 47 is first coated with the flux and that the solder wire 46 is also coated with the flux, so that when the solder wire is forced into the groove a considerable quantity of the linx will be trapped in the angles of the grooveback of the solder wire, to be released as has been heretofore explained. Ordinarily this method of feeding the flux into the groove will sufliciently agitate the flux. If desired, however, astirrer may be provided comprising a paddle 280 pivoted to a standard 187 at 281, said paddle eX- tending into thev iiux reservoir, asindicated at 282, and being. engaged andl actuated at 288 by a' cam wheel 284 fast on shaft 140.

Itis essential not only that theV rod from the spool be properly straightened, but also that the groove in this rodbe formed along an elementso that when the rods are applied to the inside of a screen tube and the solderfilled groove is secured in contact with the wall of the tube at the end of the rod, and thereafter the rod is forcibly straightened, the solder-filled groove will lie in a straight line in contact with the inner surface of the screen cylinder throughout its length. To insure such a cutting of the groove I provide a sleeve 111 through which rod 48 is fed, as best shown in Fig. 7. Sleeve 111 has a key 112 of a considerable longitudinal eX,- tent which fits in thevgroove 47 of the rod. By means of a handle 118 the sleeve 111 may be rotated in its socket 1,14 attached to housing 84 by bracket 115, thumb screw 116 securing said sleeve in any required position. In this manner the key 1.12, can be adjusted so as to be exactly in the line of ymilling' cutter 89.

an element of the straightened rod, and the key operating in the groove of the rod holds the rod as it is fed, so that said groove will continue to be cut along` an element of the rod.

The method of driving the feeding devices 40 and 49 is best shown in Fig. 2'. The

by a slow speed is given bythe feeding def vices so that the rate of feed of ro'd 43 is proportioned to the cutting capacity of the The continuousfrod, which is designated as 50, after the same has been loaded with solder and flux as hereinbefore described, must be cut into desiredlengths, and Vthis is done Without interfering with the feed of the rod or the operationsof groovingand filling the same.' ln a head 134, integral With upright 136, is a guide vaperture for rod 50 Whichris formed at one side with' a shearing die 133, the interior of saiddie forming the aforesaid guide. aperture and said die being held firmly positioned bysetscrew 144'- entering Vthe head 134. 'A head 145 fast on an eccentric rod 147 which is attached to eccentric strap 148 is adapted to be operated by eccentric 149 on shaft 180. The head 145 is provided With a slot 151 which receives a bolt 150screwed into head 134 and thereby constrains the head to move Y insubstantially a right line as the same is operated by the eccentric. In the head 145 is positioned a shea-r blade146 in a slot in head 45 extending obliquely to the line of movement of said head and controlled by setscrew 146A. The shear blade 146 is thus removable to be sharpened, repaired or replaced and may be accurately positioned for instant'cutting effect, and Will not be displaced from its slotY because the cutting movement is transverse across said slot. Y

It will be understood that the head 145 is normally-out of the path ofthe rod Oiand is periodically actuatedr to out said rod for providing iinished rods of 'a proper predeterminedlength. rlhe rod 50 must, therefore,;be guided beyondL the cutter head Such guides are provided by complemental apertures 154 formedby interloclred arms 152, 153, as vshovvnin zigsgl and 21 to 25 inclusive.l 1n their Vnormal position,

Y as appears in Figs. 21 and 22, the compiemental apertures simply provide a round guide hole 154. Arms 152 Vare all secured in alinement upon an ejector rod 32 by means of set-screws 155, and arms 153 are similarly secured upon rod'34 by set-screws 156. Heads 157 on the arms 152 are provided with extensions 159,'conical or funnelshaped asl indicated at 158, for causing the rods 156- to be guided intothe apertures.

From the apertures "in heads 157 V`extend ho izontal slots 160, corresponding slots 162 being' vernically extended from the apertures in heads 161 on the arms 152. It is to be noted that in the normally closed position the igure outlined by the centers of shafts 34, and of' guide opening 154, is an isos estriangle having the equal sides extending from the centers of shafts 32va'nd 34, respectively, to the center of guide opening 154. The shafts 32 and 34 have rigidly 'connected thereto parallel arms'164 and 165 which, in turn, are pivotally connectedV by a linlr 166. lllfhen rod 34s periodically os'- cillated by means hereinafter described it will shift arm'153 and head Y1611rom the position shown in Fig.V 22 tof that shown in Fig. 29. By reason of the :connection 166 this will simultaneously shift arm 152 and head 198 vfrom the position shown inl Fig. 22 to that shownin 1lig529, Where the rod 50l is released from the closed aperture 154 and isY free to drop out of the machine through vertical slots 162 and is positively ejected therefrom rlongue portions 163 on heads 161 enter slots 160 in heads 157 When the parts are in closed positionand coperate with the flared portionof head 157 to com- Y aletetne conical guide openings 154.

Below the ejector arms 152 and 153 is situated a trough 167 lsupported on brackets mounted 'on' the Vuprights 36, as best shown in igs. 1 and' 20. This trough errl ejeeting portion of theV machine and serves receive the rodsV after they leave the ejector arms 152 and 153. j

rllhe shear previously mentioned is act'uztted automatically to cut off the rodslin given lengths in a manner now to be des-:i-ribed. Parallel with' rods 32,'33and 34 is a vsmaller rod 169 slidably mounted in regard vto the device i; v'lugs 17 O issuing from the castings 35 Yand extending the Whole length of the machine. Rod 169 is positioned in close proximity to the 'rod 56 andV to a scale 171 attached to the tops of lugs iodo 170. lAdjustably secured to rod. 169 by a v thumb screw 172 is a pointer 17 3 having'at its lower end projecting target 17 4 resting in the pathojf travel of rod 141s rod 50 is forwarded bythe feeders 40 land said rod elfigages target 174 and shifts rod V169, which automatically engagesa clutch., set

stored to its normal position by means of a spring 175 acting between a collar 176 on said rod and an adjacent supporting casting 35.

The form of clutch used for operating the shear, which clutch howeverv may be of any desired kind, is best shown in Figs. 10, 17, 18 and 19. A bracket 179 issuing from the rear of casting 31 rigidly supports a stub shaft 180 held in place by a set screw 181. A sleeve 182 is free to rotate about'shaft 180 and has cast integral with it at one end a cani 183 and is held in place on shaft 180 by means of a head 184 on said shaft. On sleeve 182 adjacent 'cam 183 is rotatably mounted a pulley fly-wheel 185 continuously driven by a belt 186. Between pulley 185 and the bracket 179 are rigidly secured on sleeve 182 the eccentric disk 149 of the shearing device and a brake drum 187 rotatable within a brake band 188 secured to casting 31 at 189.k The wheel 185 continuously rotates upon sleeve 182 and the brake thus provided prevents sleeve 182 from Vrotating until the clutch member is engaged. yThe clutch used is of a well-known form and is best seen in Fig. 17. The` bearing surface of pulley 185 is provided ywith an axial semicylindrical slot 190, and sleeve 182 at its con tact surface with pulley 185 is provided with a corresponding semicylindrical slot 191 which extends through cam 183 as a cylind rical hole 192. Within hole 192 is a short round rod 193 ground olf at 194 to completely fill slot 191 and provided at its cylindrical end with an arm 195 rigidly riveted thereto. This rod is held in place by means of a cap 196 screwed in place on cam 183. lGap 196 is provided with apertures 197 and 198 through which both ends ofarmA 195 project and allows rod 193 to have a small amount ofV oscillatorymotion.l The upper end of arm 195 is held toward theright means of a spring 199 and in this position tends to' thrust a shoulder 200 of rod 194 into slot 190 'whenever that slot passes said rod, thus tending to engage the pulley 185 with the sleeve 182 for rotation in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 10. An arm 177, pivoted at its center upon a bracket 201 secured to casting'i31, has a finger 202 which engages the lower portion of arm 195 as the sleeve 1,82 is rotated" and serves-to disengage pulley 185 from sleeve 182, and also to cause Isaid sleeve to stop at a precisepredetermined point. An arm 203 secured torod. 34 is lequipped with a cam roller 204 which 1s held into engagement with cam 183 bya spring 216. By this means rods 32 and 34 are given their oscillatory motion for ejecting the cutoifportions of rod 50. It will be noted that cam 183 is so constructed that the ejecting takes place after the rod has been sheared.

i In combination with the aforementioned ree is a nipplesA devise Whh, raises' lever 177 to disengage nger 202 from clutch arm 195f to actuate the clutch for operating the shear and ejectors. T his device isshown in Figs. 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15` and 16. Arm 177 is stopped by a bumper 205 and is iv otally connected to a vertical rod 178. od 178 is pivotally secured to a square slide 206 operating in a housing 207 attached to the rod 33 by means of a lug 208 and a set screw 209. As seen in Figs. 12 and 15, slide 206 is normallyheld in a downward position by means of a latch dog 210 engaging with a portion ofv the top thereof and pivoted within housing 207 at 212. Dog 210 is held in place by a compression coil spring 211, and when the same is withdrawnl it allows slide 206 to move upward and engage the clutch, as shown in Figs. 13 and 19. A horizontal slide 213 is rigidly secured to rod 169 and carries at its center a catch lever 214 normally held in engagement with lever 210 by means of a flat spring 215, as clearly shown in Figs. 14 and 15. As the rod 169 is shifted by the moving rod 50, lever 210 is withdrawn by the catch 214 andthe clutch actuated. Slide 206 is restored to its normal position by means of a plunger 217 within housing 207 which is lowered by an arm 218 and a pin 221, said arm being secured to rod 32, as best seen in Fig. 11. As cam arm 203, referring to Fig. 10, commences to' rise, following cam 183, the arm 218, due to the parallel link motion shown in Fig. 20, commences to lower and 'to restore slidev 206 to its normal position. As, however,the rond 50 has not yet been sheared or ejected, the slide 213 isy held out and the lever 210 is hence held from engagement with slide 206 when the same shall have been restored. To free lever 210 at this time from catch 214 said 'catch and plunger 217 are provided with cam Vsuifface's 219 and 220, so" that as the plunger 217 is lowered the catch 214 is receded within slide 213 from engagement with lever 210, as best seen in Fig. 14. This expedient, however, does not interfere with the return of slide 213 at any time when the sheared portion of rod 50 shall have been ejected. As plunger 217 again travels upward catch 214 once more comes in engagement with lever Y210 prior to cutting'oil' ariother portion of frod''50." `will 'be' noted that the sleeve 182'makesV only a single 'revolution each time? andthat the parts Iremain in the original Aposition'at the'end of that revolution. 'Theshearing action?, as noted from the fact' that pulleyi'185 is directly izo driven, takes place so Quickly'that rod 50 Y iso v viscous flux through which said wire passes,

and means for feeding and forcing said solder wire into thegroove as `the rods are fed. 3. A machine for grooving and filling rods comprising means for feeding the rod, means for straightening the rod as the same is fed, means for cutting a straight groove in the `rod after the rod is straightened, andmeans for filling the groove with solder. Y

4:. A machine for grooving and filling rods comprisingmeans for feeding the rod, means for straightening jthe rod as the same is fed,

Vmeans for cutting a straight groove inthe .rod after therod is straightened, and means for filling the groove with solder and for applying a flux to the solder before the same is introduced in the groove.

15. Amachine for grooving and filling rods f comprising means for continuously feeding an extended rod, means for cutting a straight groove in the rod as the same is fed, Ameans for filling the groove with solder, and means for cutting the rod into predetermined .lengths while the same is being fed.

6.,.A machine for grooving and filling rods comprising means for feeding the rods and cutting a straight groove `therein as fed, means for introducing a soldering flux into the groove, and means thereafter for filling the groove with solder. v

7. A machinefor grooving and filling rods comprising means for feeding the rods and cutting a straight groove therein as fed,- a

source of supply of solder inthe form of a continuous wire, means including a receptacle containing soldering flux for introducing said flux into the groove, means thereafter for feeding and forcing said solder wire into the groove as the rods are fed.

8. A machine for grooving and filling rods Y formed from a continuous roll of large wire comprising `means for .feeding the wire, means for straightening the wire as-theY same is fed, means-for cutting a groove inthe rod formed of the, straightenedV wire, and means for-filling the groove with solder.

9. Almacliine for grooving andi'illing rods formed from a continuous roll of large wire comprising Vmeans for feeding the wire,

Y means for straightening the wire as the same 1s fed, means for cutting a groove in the rodV formed by the straightened wire, means including an elongated key entering into the groove for guiding said rod so that the same will be held from twisting and the groove be formed straight along an element of the rod,

into lpredetermined lengths while the same is Y Y beingfed.

il, A machine for grooving and `lling rods comprising means for feeding the rod, means forstraightening the rod as the same is fed, a milling cutter operative in a fixed plane, means for guiding the rod so that said cutter will be caused to cut out a groove in the rod, a key held infiXed position and ,entering into said groove to hold the rod from twisting and cause the groove to be cut in a straight line along an element of the rod, and means thereafter for groove with solder.

l2. A machine for operating upon rods comprising means for straightening and con-f tinuously `feeding an extendedl rod, means for cutting a straight. groove in the rod and filling the same with solder as the rod is fed,

and means controlled in operation by the movement of the rod to cut the rod in predetermined lengthsf I13. A machine `for operating upon rods comprising means for straightening and continuously feeding an'extended rod, means for cutting a straight groove in therod and filling thesame with solder as the rod is fed, means controlled in operation bythe movement of the rod to Vcut the rod in predetermined lengths,Y and `means simultaneously operative toy discharge said lengths of rod Afrom the machine without terminating operation ofthe feeding means.

14. A machine for operating upon rods comprising means for straightening andcontinuously `feeding an extended rod, means for Vcutting a Vgroove in the rodas fed,means `for-filling the groove with solder, means .thereafter for guidingthe rod in a fixed ,Y pathway, A.means for cutting the rods in predetermined lengths, and means for actuating `said lguiding means when the rodis cutto v discharge said'lengths from the, machine.

l luA machine for operatingl upon rods comprising means for feeding the rod, means for straightening the rodasV the same a chamber therein and an aperture extendsuing the is'. fed, means including a ,housing` having,

ing through the chamber for guiding the straig tened rod so that the same passes through the top of said chamber, a milling cutter in 'the chamber extending into the path of the rod, and means for operating the cutter to cause the same to out a groove in the rod as the same is fed.

16. A machine for operating upon rods comprising means for feeding the rod, means for straightening the rod as the same is fed, means including a housing having a chamber therein and an aperture extending through the chamber for guiding a straightened rod so that the same passesl through the top of said chamber', a milling cutter in the chamber extending' into the path of the rod, means for operating the cutter to cause the same to out a groove in the rod as the same is fed, and means for injecting fluid upon the cutter and into the `groove.

i 17; A machine for operating upon rods comprising means for feeding the rod, means for straightening the rod as the same is fed, a housing for guiding the straightened rod, and a milling cutter operative Within the housing to cut a straight groove along an element ef the rod.

18. A machine for operating upon rods comprising means for feeding and straightening the rod, means for cutting a groove in the rod, and an elongated key held in fixed position. and entering said groove to hold the rod from twisting and causing the groove to be cut in a straight line along the element of the rod.

19. A machine for opeating upon rods comprising means for feeding and straightening the rod, means for cutting a groove in the rod, an elongated lrev held in fined position and entering said groove to hold the rod from vtwisting and causing the groove to be cut in a straight line along the element of the rod, and means for adjustingV the key.

20.'A machine for operating upon rods comprising means for feeding and straightening the rod as the same is fed, means for cutting a groove in the rod, a tubular guide for said rod through which the rod extends after the groove is cut, and a key in said tubular guide entering said groove to hold the rod from twisting and causing the groove to be cut in a straight line along an element of the rod.

21. A machine for operating upon rods comprising means for straightening and continuously feeding an extended rod,

cutting member associated with part of said guiding means, and means set in operation by movement of the rod for actuating said cutting member to cut the rod into predetermined lengths While the rod is being fed.

22. A machine for operating upon cylindrical rods comprising a. cutter, means on each side of the cutter1 operable upon the rod for feeding the same so that the cutter will out a groove in the rod, and means for holding the rod from turning While the groove is cut.

23. A machine for operating upon rods comprising means for feeding a rod, means for straightening the rod as the same is fed, a housing Jfor guiding the straightened rod, a milling cutter operative Within the housing to cut a straight groove along an element on the underside of the rod, and means for injecting fluid into the housing and upon the cutter and into the groove.

24. A machine for operating upon rods comprising means for feeding and straightening the rods, said straightening means being operative to give the rod an upward camber in a vertical plane, a milling cutter operative to cut a groove in the lower portion of said rod in said vertical plane and tending to produce a camber in the opposite direction, and means for guiding the rod to and past the cutter While the same is fed.

25. A machine for grooving and lling rods comprising means for feeding the rods and mea-ns for cutting a straight groove therein as fed, a Vreceptacle containing soldering flux, a disk` operative Within said fiux and in the groove for introducing the fiuX in the groove, and means thereafter for filling the groove with solder.

26. A machine for grooving and filling rods comprising means for feeding the rods and means for cutting a straight groove therein as fed, a receptacle containing soldering flux, a dislr operative Within said flux and in the groove for introducing the iiuX in the groove, means thereafter for filling the groove with solder, and means for agitating the this Within the receptacle.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of tivo Witnesses.

EDWARD E. JOHNSUN.

Nitnessesz F. A. WHITELEY, H. A. BoWMAN, 

